Official Minnesota Christmas Tree is Headed to St. Paul

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - State foresters trekked through the snow today in a state forest near Duluth to take care of one of their annual duties, the chopping down of Minnesota's official Christmas tree. The 60-year-old tree from the Nemadji State Forest will be transported to St. Paul, where it will be decorated and displayed at the Governor's mansion through the holidays.

“This year’s tree is absolutely gorgeous—tall, full, and almost perfectly shaped,” said Jean Mouelle, the DNR forester who selected this year’s tree. “It’s an impressive example of a balsam fir.”

It’s become a holiday tradition for DNR staff to select the official Christmas tree from one of Minnesota’s 59 state forests, which is always harvested on the Friday before Thanksgiving. The tree will set up at the Governor’s mansion on Monday and the annual “lighting” ceremony is scheduled to take place on November 26th.